THE Lib Dems are offering the chance to attend “exclusive dinners” with Nick Clegg – for £25,000 a year.

The cash-strapped party is setting up three new groups in a bid to raise more than £1million, including an elite Leaders’ Forum which can be attended by just 50 wealthy individuals.

In a confidential note Mr Clegg even wrote: “You don’t have to be a Liberal Democrat to take part. In today’s politics, all are welcome.”

The move opens up the Lib Dems to damaging accusations of cash-for-access and highlights their dire financial ­position. The party went £1.25million into the red last year after losing £1.75million of state cash used to fund opposition parties. The so-called “short money” was stopped once they joined the Coalition, forcing them to lay off 20 staff.

Critics have pointed out that £25,000 would be easily ­affordable to profitable lobby groups, who could use the scheme to get access to senior government figures.

Labour MP Grahame Morris said it was outrageous that a party claiming to represent “new politics” had resorted to cosying up to mega-rich individuals. He said: “Nick Clegg’s exclusive supper club will give rank and file Lib Dems indigestion.

“When people see these kind of desperate money-raising schemes it puts people off politics. How can ordinary families on £25,000 afford the kind of money the Lib Dems are asking for?”

In a document to potential members of the Leaders’ Forum Mr Clegg stated: “We are in Government for the first time in almost 70 years and playing a central role in creating a fairer and more prosperous Britain. I’d like to invite you to join the debate.

“My colleagues and I want to listen to you and to continue this dialogue.” Anyone in the group is promised ­“unrivalled networking opportunities”. At the “exclusive dinners” members will get the chance to debate with frontbench Lib Dem ministers.

All it takes is a £25,000 payment into the party’s Royal Bank of Scotland account.

A Lib Dem spokesman defended the scheme, claiming it was simply “a forum for discussion among leaders in various sectors and industries from around the world”.

He added: “This forum is an opportunity for the party to stimulate conversation and debate with industry experts.

The spokesman also maintained the party’s finances were “robust”, adding: “The party has never relied upon corporate or union ­donations.”